Free mental health services given to 50 families.

Peshawar, June 22, 2009 (Frontier Star) -- Free mental health services were given to 50 families in the counselling centre of Ibadat Hospital Peshawar. Most of the registered families are internally displaced from Swat valley; who have arrived only a week ago and are residing in a local school. Amongst the distressed families there were five physically disabled persons for whom wheel chair are arranged and were distributed. Free lunch was supplied to the children who were more than the number of adults. Free mental health counselling and out patient psychiatric and primary medical health care was given to 210 persons the breakup is as follows. Total families 50, total number of adult males 126, total number of women175 and total number of children 205. Five persons suffering from acute chest infection and very high fever were referred to local tertiary hospitals for further management. Depression, numbness, fatiqibility low threshold for hot weather, persecutory ideas, intrusive thoughts, startle reaction insomnia and periodic disorientation were noticed in 60% of women, 10% of men and 30% of children. The participants include one volunteer Physician, 3 Psychiatrists, 2 psychologists and 5 social workers. Medicines worth ninety thousand rupees were distributed and a follow up visit was suggested to 110 incumbents. The camp was organized under the flag of "HUM Pakistani" and Pakistan Psychiatric society, Fatima Jinnah Medical Collage and Fountain House Peshawar Branch. The medicines were donated by Prof. Dr. Haroon Rasheed Chaudhry. The Camp was arranged and supervised by Prof. Dr. Khalid A Mufti.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)